The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-12-15

to be no just complaint of this taxa
tionby the consumers Of these articles
and there seems to be nothing
so WE'LL ABLE To BEAR THE BURDEN
without hardship to any portion of the
people.
But our present tariff laws, the vi
cous, ineQuable and illogical source of
unnecessary taxation, ought to be at
once revised and amended. These
laws, as their primary and plain effect,
raise the price to sonsumers of all a.ti-
Giles imported and subject to duty, by
precisely the sum paid for such duties.
Thus the amount of duty measures the
tax paid by those who purchase for
use these imported articles Many of
these things, however, are raised or
manufactured in our own country, and
the duties now levied upon foreign
goods and products are called protec-
ton to these home manufactures be-
cause they render il possible for those
Of our people who are manufacturers
to make these taxed articles and sell
them for a price equal to that demand
ed for the imported goods that have
paid customs duty.
1t happens that while comparatively
few use the imported articles, mill
ions Of our people
WHO NEVER USE AND NEVER SAW
any Of the foreign products purchase
and use things Of the same kind made
IN this country and pay therefor near
ly or quite the same enhanced price
which the duty adds to the imported
articles. Those who buy imports pay
the duty charged thereon into the
public Treasury, but the great majori-
ty of our citizens who buy domestic
articles of the same class pay sum
at least Approximately equal to this
duty to home manufacturers. This
reference to the operation of our tariff
laws is not made by way OF INSTRUCTION,
but in order that we may be constant
ly reminded Of the manner in which
this imposes burden upon those who
use domestic products as well as those
who consume imported articles, and
thus create tax upon all our people.
1t is not proposed to entirel relieve
the country of this taxation. II must
be extensively continued as
SOURCE OF THE Governments INCOME
and in a readjustment of our tariff the
interests of American labor engaged
in manufacture should be carefully
considered, as well MS the preservation
ofour manufacturers. II may be call
ed protection, or by any other name,
but relief from the hardships and dan
gers OF our present tariff laws should
be devised with especial precaution
against imperiling the existence of our
manufacturing interests. But this
existence should not mean condition
which, without regard 70 the public
welfare or a national exigency, must
always insure the realization OF i'm.
mense profits instead OF moderately
profitable returns AS the volume and
diversity of our national activities in
crease new recruits arc added to those
who desire continuation Of the ad
vantages which they conceive the
present system of tariff taxation direct
~ affords them. SO stubbornly have
all efforts to reform the present condi
tinn been registered by those of ON
fellow-citizens thus engaged that they
can hardly complain
OF THE SUSPICION ENTERTAINED
to a ceI tain extent that there existed
an organized combination all along
, the line to maintain their advantage
We are IN the midst of centennia
celebrations, and with becoming pride
we rejoice in American skill and inge
nuity, in American energy and enter
. prise, snd in the wonderful natura
advantages and resources, developed
by century's growth. Yet when al
attempt is made to Justify schemt
! which permits II tax to be laid upol
| every consumer in the land for tn,
benefit Of our manufactures quite be
: yOnd Il reasonable demand for Govern
: mental regard, it suits the purposes o
advocacy to call our manufactures in
FAINT industries, still needing the high
est and greatest degree OF favor an(
; fostering care that can be
, wRUNG FROM FEDERAL LEGISLATION
{ 1t is also said that the increase in tn
= price OF domestic manufactures result
r ing from the present tariff is necessar,
in order that higher wages may b
, paid to our wOrkingmen employed il
, manufactures than are paid for wha
/, is called the pauper labor OF Europe
{ All will acknowledge the force of al
/ argument which involves the welfar
T. and liberal compensation OF our lab0
1 and is honorable in the eyes OF ever
American citizen and rs it lies at th
: foundation OF our development an
r. progress, it is entitled, without affects
# ton o: hypocrisy, to the utmost regarC
h The standard OF our laborers' hf
+. should nut be measured by that of an
!, other country less favored, and the
o are entitled to their full share of all ou
it advantages.
@ By the last census it is made TO AZ
J, pear that of the II 1892 ,099 OF our popl
latiOn, engaged
IN ALL KINDS OF INDUSTRY,
h 7,67O,493 are employed in agricultur
( 4,074, ,23S in professional and persons
l; service (2,934,876 of whom are dome
/. tic servants and laborers', while 1,S1C
d 256 are employee in trade and tran
l. portation and 8 937 ,112 are classed 1
employed in manufacturing and mil
J. ing. For present purposes, howeve
h the last number given should be COZ
1t sideraoly reduced. Without attemp
o ing to euumerate all, it will be- conop
is ed that there should be deducted fro
Iy those which itincludes 375, 143 carpe
t. ters and joiners, 2S5,40l millinel
r. dress-makers and SeamstresseS, 172, Z.
nl ~. l...... a. 90 -sG .l..r. I'd LII.